To all the first-generation college students starting college this week: You will hit bumps in the road, everyone does, you are not the only one.

You may feel alone or not sure where to go for advice. Talk to an advisor. Ask to be connected with a peer who is also first generation. Ask to be connected with alumni or faculty who is first generation, you are not the only one.

You may have the urge to go back home. Don’t. Fight the urge, stick with it. Your parents may say it is okay to come home. Don’t listen. Trust me, regret is a horrible feeling that stays with you. The urge to go home fades, and you are not the only one.

Getting involved on campus, and trying something new will help you leave your comfort zone and encourage others to do the same. In the very least, it will distract you from your homesickness. And that the most, you may uncover a passion you didn’t even knew you had before.

Just remember, when you’re feeling hopeless and alone, take a minute to be proud of where you are right now, and to think about where you are going. And remember: you are not alone.

There are supports out there like http://www.imfirst.org/. I also encourage you to post to this thread or reach out to us here. I was a first-generation college student and it took me about 7 years to get my degree so I can relate. You are not alone.

Author: Brian Peddle

Brian Peddle is founder and CEO of Motivis Learning. Prior to that, he served as the Chief Technology Officer at College for America @ SNHU. During his time with CfA, he and his team launched a competency-based LMS and SIS built from the ground up on the Salesforce platform. Brian's previous roles include VP of Technology and Development at Jobscience and senior software engineering positions at Healthcaresource, Monster.com, and Adobe. He is also a first-generation college graduate.